HU 164 Research Methods and Techniques

Prof. Dr. Abdelsamie Moet

Fall 2012/13

Pharos University in AlexandriaFaculty of Engineering

Course Outline

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HU 164 Research Methods and Techniques

The course addresses effective methods of research. Students learn how to arrange their ideas and how to present them properly, with emphasis on scientific and technical tools.

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Learning Outcomes

• The main objectives of this course are to help students:

– To identify and define a research problem;– To develop and write a research proposal for their discipline

area;– To use information systems effectively; – To write a critical review of the relevant literature;– To choose and apply an appropriate experimental design to a

particular research problem, if required; – To understand and apply a range of standard techniques for

data acquisition; – To prepare a well written and concise research report

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Producer User

Research

U R 1 of 3

None

Both must learn what is “Good Research”

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Essential Steps of the Design Process

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8tCo8yfbPI&feature=related

• Identify the need• Define the criteria (from the customer)• Explore/ Research/ Investigate• Generate alternative solutions• Choose a solution (based on pros and cons)• Create a detailed design• Modeling/ Development/ Execution• Testing and Evaluation• Redesign and Improvement.

User

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Both must learn what is “Good Research”

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HU 1642 Hours

1 HRLecture

1 HRSelf-learningPresentation

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Grades

• Quizzes 10

• Research Proposal 10 Weekly

10 Final

• Intra-term Exam 20

• Final Exam 50

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HU 164 Research Proposal: Developmental Steps

• Selection of Research Problem– Consult Faculty - Consult a “friend/relative”– Pick your own - Internet

Obtain Approval

• Problem Definition• Literature Review• Research Plan• Suggested Data Acquisition Techniques• Suggested Data Analysis Techniques• Milestones• Expected Difficulties• Anticipated Results

Information Literacy

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Research Proposal Reporting

Weekly:– Power Point slides and Print-out – Start first progress report with a few slides– Then add more next report– Etc

Final Presentation (to be scheduled)

Progressive

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Proposed Theme: Sustainable Urban Environments

• Design urban communities that provide a high quality life-style that meets the needs of more people with a reduced carbon and ecological footprint.

• Ecologically friendly and healthy urban environments require integration of – innovative multi-functional energy efficient buildings, – healthy personal and public transportation systems, – appropriate accessible green space, – integration of local food systems, and – incorporation of the natural environment into interior and exterior living

space. • Sustainable urban ecosystems foster physical and mental well-

being, individual economic prosperity, more efficient per capita consumption of water and energy, a higher return on public investment in municipal infrastructure and more opportunities for development of creative and ecologically responsible non-renewable materials cycling and natural resource utilization.

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Proposed Theme: Green Technology

• Innovate changes in daily life through material production and process development that provide a healthy quality of life without compromising the ecosystem, human health.

• Green technology includes – life cycle analysis, – source reduction, – resilience engineering, and – responsible decision making which can simultaneously promote

economic development within the context of environmental stewardship. • Compelling issues in green technology include

– new means of generating and evaluating energy and – energy efficiency, – environmentally friendly and – energy efficient building materials, chemical products and processes

that reduce or eliminate use and generation of hazardous substances, and

– green nanotechnology.

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Text Book

• Research Methodology: An Introduction, Wayne Goddard, Stuart Melville, Juta Academic, 2004

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Lecture Topics• Lecture 1: Course Outline• Lecture 2: Information Literacy• Lecture 3: Definitions• Lecture 4: Problem Definition • Lecture 5: Research Planning/ Cost &

Milestones• Lecture 6: Data Acquisition and Error

Analysis • Lecture 7: Data Analysis• Lecture 8: Communicating Research• Lecture 9: Research Ethics and

Intellectual Property

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Reference Books

• Lindsay D. “A Guide to Scientific Writing” Longman, 1995

• Coley S M and Scheinberg C A, "Proposal Writing", Newbury Sage Publications, 1990

• Ralph Berry. “How to write a Research Paper”, Pergamon, 1986

• Alley, Michael, The Craft of Scientific Writing, 3rd edition (New York: Springer-Verlag, 1996

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Online Sources• Maricoba Center for Learning and Instructionhttp://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/proj/res_meth/login.html

• National Center for Supported electronic Text (NCSeT)http://ncset.uoregon.edu/index.php/resources-mainmenu-109/

methodology-mainmenu-68/45-overview

• Stanford University Policy, 1997. Retention of and Access to Research Data. Research Policy Handbook, RPH 2.10. http://www.stanford.edu/dept/DoR/rph/2-10.html

• Advice on Writing Proposals Carnegie Mellon Universityhttp://www.cs.cmu.edu/~sfinger/advice/advice.html

• Proposal Template, University of Johannesburghttp://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Faculties/management/departments/bit/research/Documents/Masters%20Research%20Proposal%20Template.pdf

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